The stuff that came up about role profiles for academic related+professional staff roles is partially covered here:ucu.org.uk/article/1931/R…
^Academic role profiles+guidance were agreed through JNCHES (AUT days, pre-UCU). ARPS role profiles weren't quite prioritised in same way /2

A 'national library' of role profiles for academics was developed. Intentions to do this for ARPS... but no *comparable* library. Some local role profiles were agreed between individual AUT/UCU branches+uni mgmts; later UCU developed model ARPS profiles ucu.org.uk/arprofiles /4

There is a problem with grade drift and deflation across all roles, but it's especially marked for ARPS staff where our roles never received quite the same attention with respect to implementation of the 2004 Framework Agreement. /5

This = key area of work for the now thankfully reconstituted @UCU_ARPS committee. We had a year of Not Technically Existing owing to 2 consecutive inquorate annual meetings (the 2nd mostly down to snow + a near miss). We urgently need to rejuvenate + build organisation of ARPS /6

(Lack of) career progression, respect, opportunity are all major themes from the past 13 years of motions to @UCU_ARPS annual meetings, as are specific concerns about implementation of the Framework Agreement, job evaluation, downgrading + outsourcing. /7

See @leedsucu motion @UCU_ARPS 2009 annual mtg - to fight "prejudicial interpretation of framework agreements by local mgmt, to actively seek to reform them where such interpretation is easily facilitated, to insist on natural grade progression & to resist further marketisation/9

A major theme for over a decade (!) has concern over the deterioration in the links between academic & ARPS roles, loss of the notion we're all part of the same *academic team*. If we allow mgmt narratives to divide us, it's easier for the "us/them" talk to creep in=dangerous!/10

^^This is why @UCU_ARPS staff find it so exclusionary and divisive when @UCU is referred to in the media as the "lecturers' union" <-- as a matter of fact that excludes a LOT of UCU members in many categories across FE + HE. This is why it matters we recognise + #LoveOurARPS /11

I've had range of casualised academic roles+eventually moved into fixed term full time ARPS role, after a few years was finally made permanent (we @leedsucu worked hard alongside @UoLUnison in my unit!) so I've experienced all manner of weird us/them narratives: all damaging! /12

This year's ARPS meeting was brilliant, positive organising space! @UCU_ARPS committee now exists to channel ARPS concerns to NEC+Congress. We'll be announcing an action plan soon based on the workshop discussions at the annual meeting + relaunching our newsletter #LoveOurARPS/14

Particular concerns were raised at this year's annual mtg about damaging changes to IT services, support for counselling services + mental health of students and staff. We have PLANS! For more on the annual @UCU_ARPS mtg + campaign planning see:

Related hashtags

Been thinking about a conversation last night at a dear friend’s birthday party with several academics in attendance, wrt GTVO, the current ballot for #securework#equalpay#fairpayinhe+ fair #workload & #defendUSS: important messages we need to get out there before too late! /1

Fundamentally we all need to understand *any* ballot result we get on any issue affects our bargaining power in *all* other areas. I don’t think this point can’t be hammered home enough. Casualised colleagues who don’t yet qualify for #USS came out in number bc they got this /2

Pre-Trade Union Act 2016 we’d have been dancing on tables celebrating our last ballot result bc we got to about 42% turnout taken on aggregate + HUGE vote for action. The threshold provides a “fake news” cover for employers to pretend turnout <50% means no strength of feeling /3

There's been relatively little discussion about Brexit at @ucu VP hustings. This is likely because of our collective levels of despair, and ferocity of views held, but we as a union MUST be on top of the issues as strongly as possible. Here are my thoughts ⬇ /1

It would be easy to panic & disappear into a black hole of doom over current state of #Brexitshambles. But as a trade union we must always look for ways to defend, protect + improve the situation for our members & for society as a whole. 3/

Good @USSBriefs thread on #USS HESC yesterday afternoon in Manchester... it was inquorate so advisory+motions will be sent to HEC to deliberate... negotiators do have meetings before then so will need to balance existing @UCU policy with advice/guidance from 91 delegates yday /1

I hope this + results of HESC on Pay + Equality dispute mean extra HEC meeting(s) to avoid squeezing everything into short slot on a larger agenda (of other very important things). To be effective, we need time for focused discussion on enacting motions properly/transparently /2

Born & raised in #Fanar#Lebanon, a tiny country in the middle east with a lot to offer. I always had a positive outlook on life maybe because of the culture or values🤷‍♀️.
If you don't know #Lebanon or a #lebanese then you should start mingling 🤣@IWS_Network#VoicesIWS

I grew up surrounded by a loving, joking & tough type of family that always support each other even amidst fighting. You can imaging being 4 kids in different age groups can cause a lot of fights growing up 😂 #siblingsfight#family#VoicesIWS@IWS_Network

I have my issues🤷‍♀️! I always wanted to prove myself & make my family proud(2nd child). A pressure that was just in my head; they were always proud of us. I wanted to grow up to be a doctor or an army officer like my dad. Let's just say I changed my mind! #VoicesIWS@IWS_Network

Need an evolving understanding for what tools are available today to get your work done. If you want your business people to work with your #datascience team, they need to understand what data is and what it can do. Also helps to avoid chasing buzzwords and bling.

This all started because the #MetPolice & #LBRUT couldn't do their jobs properly & then decided to take the law into their own hands. The result of this decision has led to events stranger than fiction

My company was raided. It should have been a straightforward matter. But the #MetPolice & #LBRUT forgot to seize my computer & came back to do a 2nd raid. The search warrant didn't permit a second entry, however, #LBRUT entered unlawfully

Complaints were then made to my MP #VinceCable. He liaised with the #Metpolice & #LBRUT. And then weeks later, the search warrant was completely changed & was passed off as the search warrant executed on the day of the raids.

The idea of "keeping your twitter account academic" came up at today's social media session at #ORS2018. I'd like to push back against that a little. (a thread)

PEOPLE do science. We are not machines, we have hobbies, we have things that we care about. While our institutions do (and probably should!) keep their accounts "strictly science," as individuals, I think we need to use our platforms differently

Stand up for things that you believe in--science funding is important, but so are the people who do science and who are impacted by science. Use you platform to advocate for making science a more inclusive place, and show those interested in science that there IS a place for them